A person is required to obtain a valid hunting license prior to hinting wild birds or wild animals. All applicants for an adult firearms hunting license must show proof of having previously held an adult license to hunt with firearms or having successfully completed an approved hunter safety course in this State or any other State or Province of Canada since 1976.

a. A person is required to keep his hunting license with him while hunting or transporting wild game and must show it to any warden, Department employee, guide or landowner upon request.
b. Possession of a firearm in the fields or forests or on the waters or ice of the State without a hunting license is prima facia evidence of hunting in violation of law.
c. Maine residents are required to obtain hunting licenses from the town clerk in the town in which they live or, if they live in an unorganized township, from the town clerk or agent in the nearest town. (NOTE: It is the responsibility of the applicant to submit proof of residency).
d. Non-residents may obtain hunting licenses, in person or by mail, from the Department office in Augusta or from any of the numerous non-resident license agents throughout the State.
e. A Maine resident may hunt without a license on his own land if he lives on that particular piece of land, and the piece of land exceeds 10 acres in size and is used exclusively for agricultural purposes.

Any person 16 years of age or older is required to obtain a pheasant stamp prior to hunting or possessing pheasants in Cumberland & York Counties. (Available from Town Clerk).

a. A person is required to validate the stamp by writing their signature across the face of the stamp in ink.
b. A person is required to have his pheasant stamp with him in order to hunt or possess pheasant in Cumberland and York Counties.

Any person 16 years of age or older is required to obtain a State migratory waterfowl stamp prior to hunting waterfowl.

a. A person is required to validate the stamp by writing his signature across the face of the stamp in ink.
b. A person is required to have his migratory waterfowl stamp with him in order to hunt or possess waterfowl.

An archery license allows bow and arrow hunting of legal game throughout the state (except for deer during the muzzle-loading season).
(NOTE: A regular hunting license also allows bow and arrow hunting EXCEPT that during the special archery season on deer, an archery license is required to hunt any legal species with bow and arrow).

a. A free license to hunt (including special archery, muzzle-loading, and pheasant hunting permit), fish or trap or a renewal of a license to guide will be issued, upon application, to any Maine resident who is 70 years of age or older. Residents who apply for these complimentary licenses at any time during the calendar year of their 70th birthday shall be issued a license upon application, regardless of the actual date during that calendar year when they attain age 70.
b. A free license to hunt, fish or trap will be issued, upon application, to any Maine Indian who is a member of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet or Micmac tribe. (License must be obtained from their respective tribal headquarters).
c. A free license to hunt (including muzzle-loading and a pheasant permit) or fish, will be issued, upon application, to any Maine resident who is a war veteran and has a service-connected disability of 100%, or has served in a combat zone and has a service-connected disability of 70% or more.
d. A free license to hunt or fish will be issued, upon application, to Maine residents or non-residesnts (if reciprocal privileges exist in the home state of the non-resident) who are suffering from the loss, or loss of use of, both lower extremities.

a. A person is required to obtain a valid trapping license prior to setting or tending traps for wild animals. A license is also required when assisting another person in setting or tending traps. All applicants for an adult trapping license must show proof of having held an adult trapping license after January 1,1978, or of having successfully completed an approved trapper education course.
b. A Maine resident may trap wild animals, except beaver, without a license on his own land if he lives on that particular piece of land and uses the land exclusively for agricultural purposes.
c. Trapping licenses are valid from July 1st of one year to June 30th of the following year.
d. Renewal forms will be mailed to trappers who were licensed the previous year. Others may apply for licenses through the Dept. office in Augusta.

a. Any person who receives any form or remuneration for his services in accompanying or assisting others while hunting, fishing, trapping, boating, snowmobiling or camping at a primitive camping area is required to have a guide's license.
b. No person may act as a guide until he is 18 years of age.
c. Any person who wishes to become licensed as a guide must submit an application to the Commissioner on forms provided by the Department.
d. Any person who has not previously been licensed as a Maine guide will be required to pass an examination before a Board of Examiners. Examination Fee: $10.00
e. Qualified applicants may be licensed as guides in either general or specialized classifications.

HIDE DEALERS LICENSE(Valid from July 1 to June 30):
Any person who commercially buys, sells or barters any raw, untanned wild animal hide or head is required to have a hide dealer's license. A license is also required when assisting another person in this activity, except that an employee of a licensed hide dealer may, without a license, assist in this activity only at the dealer's fixed place of business. (NOTE: This license is not required in order for a person to sell the head, hide, antlers and feet of a deer and moose; head, hide, teeth, gall bladder and claws of any bear or any fur bearing animal which he had legally taken).

SEASONAL HIDE DEALERS LICENSE (Valid from October 1 to December 31):
The Commissioner may issue a special hide dealer's license to any person who maintains a place of business for the butchering of wild animals within this States. The license permits a holder commercially to sell or barter the heads or untanned hides of deer or moose that are butchered in the license holder's place of business.

TAXIDERMIST LICENSE (Valid from July 1 to June 30):
A taxidermist license will be issued to any applicant who is skilled in the art of taxidermy. This license allows a person to possess, at his place of business, lawfully possessed fish or wildlife for the sole purpose of preparing and mounting them.

FALCONRY LICENSE:
A falconry license, in addition to a regular hunting license, is required of persons who engage in falconry. Copies of the regulations pertaining to this type of hunting are available upon request.

11. UNLAWFUL CONDUCT:
It is unlawful to obtain any license or permit through misstatement or misrepresentation or to possess any license or permit which has been altered, mutilated or tampered with in any manner.

12. LICENSE REVOCATION:
In addition to any penalty which may be imposed by a court of law, the Commissioner may revoke the license of any person convicted of violating the fish and wildlife laws.

LICENSE REQUIREMENTS

No resident of this state, 16 years of age or older, or nonresident, 12 years of age or older, may fish through the ice in inland waters or transport fish taken from inland waters without first obtaining a valid Maine fishing license. Maine Residents may obtain fishing licenses from any resident license agent. Nonresidents may obtain fishing licenses - in person or by mail - from the IF&W Department Office in Augusta or from any of the numerous nonresident license agents throughout the State.

Unless otherwise specifically provided, all fishing licenses expire on December 31 of the calendar year for which they were issued.

FREE FISHING LICENSE PROVISIONS:
A free fishing license will be issued, upon application, to the following:

1) Any Maine resident who is blind:
2) Any Maine resident who is over 70 years of age (available from Town Clerk);
3) Any Maine Indian who is a member of the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet or Micmac Tribe (must obtain licenses from their respective tribal headquarters);
4) Any Maine resident who is a war veteran, has a service connected disability of 100% or has served in a combat zone and has a service connected disability of 70% or more;
5) Any Maine resident (or nonresident, if reciprocal privileges exist in the home state of the nonresident) who is suffering from the loss, or loss of use, of both lower extremities;
Any mentally retarded person (as defined in Title 20-A).
(These free licenses may be obtained at the Department Office in Augusta.)

Residents must obtain duplicate licenses from the resident agent who issued the original license or from the IF&W Office in Augusta.

Nonresidents must obtain duplicate licenses from the IF&W Office in Augusta or at any of the Warden Service offices at the Regional Headquarters.